by Peter Newman
‘So she really was as tough as she made out. I can’t say I liked her much but –’ he raises a battered cup ‘– here’s to Duet.’
Vesper raises her own cup but keeps her eyes on the fire. ‘To Duet.’
Days pass, gentle, under a cloudy sky. The kid hops about the rocky beach, finding mossy treasures tucked beneath the stones. Jem grows slowly stronger and begins going for walks. Sometimes, Vesper goes with him and they trade details of each other’s lives; favourite colours, stories about family, hopes and dreams.
On quiet nights they can make out the faint sound of hammering, blowing across from the five floating circles.
Throughout, the sword sleeps.
Then one morning, a gleaming arrow detaches itself from one of the giant discs, skimming across the waves towards them. Sunslight glimmers along a smooth white hull and an engine purrs as it catches that light, focusing it into a single stream under the water, propelling the vessel forward.
Scout sits on the prow of the boat, mouth open, wind rippling cheeks and ruffling fur. Behind him, standing at the helm is Samael. Gauntleted hands hold the controls steady, guiding manually, indulgent.
Jem and Vesper walk down to the edge of the beach to meet them.
As the boat nears the shallows, the engine pivots, sending its force straight down and the vessel lifts gently to hover, two feet above the stones.
They climb aboard, and Samael sweeps the boat in a gentle rotation to face the sea once more. ‘What do you think?’
Vesper laughs. ‘I think it’s beautiful! Did you build this?’
‘Yes. In my old life, a team of us were making this to expand our business. It’s a scaled down version of the wave rider models that the Empire tends to use but with thinner plating to make it more fuel efficient. No weapons, of course, we didn’t have the clearance, but it meant we could expand the storage bay.’ Vesper smiles at him, warm, and he continues. ‘Before we could finish it my creator came with the Uncivil’s army and we had to evacuate. Every boat in the port was used to push First Circle into the sea and any boats that weren’t working were to be stripped for spare parts.’
‘But you didn’t strip yours?’
‘No. When the time came, I couldn’t do it. I hid the boat and swore that I’d come back and finish it one day.’
‘Well you’ve certainly done that.’
Samael runs his hand across the top of the main display screen. ‘All it needs is a name. If I had one prepared in my old life, it is lost to me now.’
‘What do you want to call it?’
‘I don’t know.’
They all think hard for a moment. Jem is the first to have an idea: ‘How about, The Late Arrival?’
Vesper is next: ‘The Hidden Treasure?’
Names are bandied about until, finally, Samael says, ‘I will call it Commander’s Rest.’
And with that, the single engine of the Commander’s Rest flares bright, shooting them out to sea.
The weather is clear and the sea merciful, allowing the Commander’s Rest to make good time. After several loud disagreements, Scout and the kid eventually come to an accord, sharing the space at the front of the boat.
Jem stretches, admiring the rich tan on his arms. ‘I can’t wait to see the Shining City. I’ve heard the food there is incredible.’
‘Oh, it is,’ replies Vesper. ‘I don’t know why but things taste less watery back home.’
‘You must be looking forward to it.’
‘I am, I can’t wait to see my family again.’ She sees him look away, misunderstands. ‘And I was going to say, I can’t wait for them to meet you. You’ll love them, I know it. And they’ll love you.’
‘Maybe.’
She prods his chest. ‘There’s no maybe about it. You’ll all have to get on because you’ll be staying with us.’
‘I will?’
‘You will.’
He prods her back. ‘And what about me, do I get a say in it?’
‘No.’
An expression of mock offence is taken but fails to hold. He grins. ‘Good. Next stop: the Shining City!’
‘Not quite,’ Vesper replies, suddenly serious. ‘We can’t go back yet. We have to go to Sonorous first.’
‘Why?’
‘I made a promise there that I have to keep.’
Jem shakes his head. ‘Maybe you should think about making fewer promises in the future.’
Having declared independence from the Empire of the Winged Eye, having made an alliance with the First, the leaders of Sonorous live in fear of retaliation. The fear has increased since twenty-five sacred swords were broken and their knights locked away. The fear keeps them vigilant. Ships are sent on wide ranging patrols, and the watchtower is constantly manned. Traps are left in the deeps to discourage submersible craft from getting too close.
But all of these measures are set against the arrival of a war fleet and most of those point to the north. As such, the Commander’s Rest is able to glide into Sonorous’ port without even raising an eyebrow.
The island is crescent shaped, the natural formation of the rock extended by metal plates to create a large bay of calm water. Within it, a mix of ships are moored, serene, while crews sweat and cargo rushes back and forth.
Infernals have a strange status here. Sonorous is allied to the First but on a day-to-day basis, the presence of the taint is neither seen nor accepted. It is not clear how the locals would react to the sudden arrival of a Dogspawn and so Scout is tucked away below deck.
Vesper and Samael step off onto dry land, leaving Jem and the kid behind.
They make their way into town, following the Tradeway directly through the port and on past densely packed living blocks towards the prison.
Every inch of space is used, buildings squeezed together on the ground and strewn across the mountainside, staggered, with lifts running between them. Above the main town are the engine levels and machine factories and above that, the featureless block of silver that houses the Harmonium Forge. Between the top of the forge and the bottom of the watchtower are a scattering of private dwellings, a few of which perch on top of the cliffs, their residents paying the price for the finest views.
On the opposite side of the wall, suspended above the sea, is the great prison complex. Each cell dangles from sheer rock, unsettled by the constant winds. Unlike most cells, these ones have no door, tempting their prisoners with an illusion of freedom. There are stories of those that jump.
None of them end well.
The only way to get to the cells is via the watchtower. Vesper takes the long way, unwilling to trust the lifts or to explain herself to those that run them.
They pass through the town without challenge and begin the long hike up the mountain, following the path as it snakes back and forth, climbing, slow.
The number of pedestrians decreases with each new level, until they walk alone, two figures standing out. Vesper pauses to catch her breath and turns to admire the view. From above, Sonorous looks like a claw grasping the buildings, squeezing them together.
Further down the path, a unit of uniformed troops assemble, four rows, red and neat, lined up in front of a crawler tank.
Vesper bites her lip. ‘I was hoping they hadn’t noticed us.’
Samael says nothing and the two continue, side by side.
The troops follow them at a distance, matching pace, following rather than closing.
More of the Sonorous independent military wait up ahead, lining both sides of the path, weapons ready. They make no move as the two draw closer. There is room to pass between the lines but only if Vesper and Samael walk single file.
She stops. It is too late to go back but she finds it hard to commit to going forward.
Samael stops a few paces after. ‘What is it?’
‘This was a mistake. I’m sorry, Samael, I wish we hadn’t come.’
‘You had to come. I understand.’
‘But look at them.’ She hangs her head. ‘This is
a death trap.’
‘They’re more scared of us than we are of them.’
She looks at the rows of masked faces. ‘Seriously?’
‘They are just people. You are the voice of The Seven.’
Suddenly, the rows of masked faces gain character, distinct. She detects the tension in their limbs and the nozzles of rifles quivering in the air. On sudden impulse, she draws the sword and watches as they flinch one after the other, a set of dominoes teetering on the brink as the note hums through them. One shrieks, involuntary, the other soldiers pretending hard that it didn’t happen, that this is just a normal day.
Vesper straightens and walks between the red uniformed walls. On either side, people hold themselves rigid, trying to strike the middle ground between looking away and making eye contact.
Ahead lies the watchtower squatting heavy on the cliff, its flat head butting the sky. Standing before its door is a figure all in black, loose clothes flowing in the wind around armour.
The sword hums, growing steadily in volume as she advances towards it. By the time she and Samael are within speaking distance, the sound has deepened into something approaching a growl.
Unlike the others, the figure shows no concern at their approach.
From behind the cliffs, two sky-ships rise on streams of light, hovering either side of the watchtower. Broken swords hang from their wings, chiming together, off key and despairing.
The figure takes a step forward, spreading its hands. ‘Do you remember me? I remember you. You have shot me, incited others to attack me and now you come again in anger. Guns and lances and swords, that is your way. It is not mine. I am the First and it is my custom when dealing with your … kind, to attempt to reach an accord before resorting to violence. However, it seems that despite the … futility of your situation, you have no wish to talk.’
Vesper continues walking until she stands barely three metres away. She plants her feet and stares straight into the mirrored black of the First’s helmet. ‘I do want to talk. My name is Vesper. I bear the sword and speak for it. I’ve not come to fight.’
‘Strange then, that you come with the Malice bared.’
‘Well, you do have two sky-ships and half an army here.’ The First does not react and she continues, hasty. ‘I’m here to make you an offer.’
‘This is unexpected but welcome.’
‘I haven’t come here to attack Sonorous or to attack you. I just want the knights that you took prisoner. Let me take them with me and we’ll all leave you in peace.’
‘That is not an offer. It is a demand. And if I do not return your … people to you, what then?’
Vesper swallows, tries to keep her voice calm. ‘It is an offer. I’m offering to hold back the Malice. I’m offering to stand between you and it.’
‘You think that you are in a position to threaten me?’
Vesper glances at the sky-ships and the weapons trained on her. She looks back at the rows of armed soldiers and lastly she looks at the First, remembering what it is a capable of. ‘I think …’ she begins, ‘that you’re scared. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have bothered with all this. I think that the men in those cells have suffered long enough. You’ve broken their swords, they can’t hurt you anymore. I think their freedom is a small price to pay for peace. The Malice has sealed the Breach. It has destroyed the Usurper and the Yearning.’ She closes her eyes, letting the sword see for her. ‘You are nothing in comparison.’
‘The Malice is broken.’
‘No, you are broken and Gamma is dead. The Malice is sharper than ever.’ Eyes still closed she takes another step forward. ‘Do we have an accord?’
The First steps back, bumping into the watchtower’s door.
Vesper steps forward again, closing the space between them. The sword shakes angrily in her hand and the air around it shimmers with heat, sparking blue. ‘Do we have an accord?’
‘You will take them and leave? You swear it?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then stop, stop! We have an accord. Your … people will be set free.’
Vesper’s eyes open, triumphant. She pulls back the sword a fraction, nodding to it. ‘Good.’
A line of knights kneel by the docks while Samael prepares the boat. Jem and Scout stay below deck, tucked away in storage, hidden.
By contrast, the kid stands on the prow of the ship glaring at the newcomers.
Vesper walks along the line, talking to the knights as she passes. Solemn faces drain her enthusiasm, her smile sagging by the time she gets to the end.
Samael gives the signal and one by one, the knights climb on board. Not all of their armour could be found and many suits are incomplete, some dressed completely in scavenged clothes, another slight to be borne.
Last to arrive is a tired looking man, every part of him seeming to slump, aside from the dirty red hair that sprouts defiant, irrepressible.
Vesper hugs him, eliciting a surprised gasp. ‘Genner! You’re alive! But I saw you fall. I’m so glad you’re alive, I thought you were dead for sure.’
‘So did I.’ He chokes something back, looking up to stop tears from spilling. ‘But the First wanted me alive. It wanted to talk.’
She hugs him again. ‘It’s over now. You’re safe. You’re all safe.’
‘Yes, thanks to you.’
‘Why do you all look so sad?’
‘We might not look it but we’re grateful you came for us. Sonorous prison is no place for a knight to die.’ He nods to her deeply, the gesture halfway to starting a bow, and moves on.
She watches him, a frown developing. ‘Wait!’ she calls as he steps onto the boarding plank. ‘What do you mean die?’
Reluctant, he turns to face her. ‘We failed in our duty to protect you. We disgraced ourselves. The knights broke their swords, swords passed down from the Maker to The Seven and through generations of Seraph. They cannot be replaced. If we are lucky the Knight Commander will grant us honour in death.’
As he speaks, Vesper’s head shakes, disapproving. ‘What? But I saved you! You can’t just go and die!’
‘What use is a knight without a sword? What use is a leader that let that happen?’
She stands there, rendered speechless by the naked shame on his face. He inclines his head and joins the others on the ship.
The Commander’s Rest departs in silence, slipping out from the calm bay into open sea. Vesper sits up top next to the kid. He butts her shoulder gently and she strokes his head.
Behind her the knights sit pressed together, bodies packing the deck. They watch Samael with open suspicion, exchanging looks with their neighbour, muttering.
About an hour after leaving, Vesper stands, too abrupt. The rocking of the boat sends her sidestepping to the right, rapid, before feet find purchase. Next to her, the kid is mockingly stable.
Taking more care, Vesper makes her way towards the middle of the deck. Emotion burns twin smudges on her cheeks. ‘Listen to me!’
Surprised, the knights and Samael look up.
‘When we first came to Sonorous, you did everything you could to save me. A lot of people died so I could live. I know that everyone here would have given their lives to protect the sword. But, when the First came, I didn’t ask you to die. I asked you to live, even though you had to break your swords to do it.’ She pauses, the flow of words suddenly dry. ‘I – I hear you whispering about Samael. I bet you’re wondering where his armour came from. I’ll tell you. It came from the bodies of knights that died in the Battle of the Red Wave.’
Horror radiates from the knights. Angry lips press together, fingers curl into trembling fists.
‘Don’t look at him like that! Don’t you dare judge him! He went where nobody else dared to go and he found it and he’s putting it to good use. Samael hasn’t given up.’ She looks at them, hoping for something, finds only confusion. ‘Don’t you see? We have to keep going.’
In a low voice, one of the knights replies. ‘But he hasn’t lost anything
.’
Vesper’s hands prod the air as she speaks. ‘Of course he has. We all have. Gamma’s body was taken by the Usurper and destroyed, but part of her lives on. Who better to serve her than those who understand? Who better than you? She doesn’t give up. Samael doesn’t give up and so I swear to you that I won’t give up.’ She sweeps them all with a look. ‘When we get back to the Shining City, I’m going to tell the Knight Commander that thanks to you and our unit, to Genner …’ she pauses for the briefest moment, ‘to Duet, and thanks to Samael, I was able to take the sword to the Breach, to seal it and stop the greatest infernal ever from coming into our world. But it isn’t over. Gamma still needs you. And so do I. So the Knight Commander isn’t going to give you honour in death because there’s too much to do.’
The old knight shuffles from his seat, onto his knees. He begins to intone the litany of the Winged Eye. Another follows, then two, then more, like a wave, prostrating themselves before her.
‘Wait!’ she says, silencing them. ‘There’s more.’ She goes below deck, anger and pride strangling caution and opens the storage container.
Jem blinks up at her, Scout wags his tail. She grabs a wrist in one hand, the scruff of a neck in the other and drags them both up into the light.
‘This is Jem,’ she announces. ‘He survived in New Horizon and helped us. He is a friend and deserves your respect.’
But none of the knights are looking at Jem, their attention held entirely by another.
‘That’s a Dogspawn!’ cries one.
‘Yes,’ replies Vesper, eyes flashing. ‘His name is Scout and he protects me, too.’
At an unseen command, Scout lays down, head resting on crossed paws.
‘But …’ stammers another knight. ‘It’s tainted. We should kill it.’
Vesper shakes her head. ‘No. The taint may be bad but it can be beaten by the power of The Seven. When I was in Verdigris, the sword turned back the power of the taint, healing people that would have been killed by it.’
Genner finally speaks up: ‘You’re saying the power of The Seven has touched this animal?’